What is a recipe for homemade liquid starch?

A:

Quick Answer

To make liquid starch, assemble 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1/2 cup of cold water and 3 3/4 cups of tap water. Bring the tap water to a rolling boil. Mix the cornstarch into the cold water until smooth, and slowly add it to the boiling water. Remove it from the heat, and allow it to cool. Optionally, add two or three drops of lemon juice or fragrant essential oil prior to removing it from heat. Increase cooking time by one minute.

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Once the starch has cooled, pour the mixture into a spray bottle. Shake the mixture well before each use. If the spray bottle becomes clogged, run the nozzle under hot water.

Unlike many commercially produced starches, homemade starch does not contain formaldehyde or silicone, so it is a safe, non-toxic option. Making starch from cornstarch also saves money, because the ingredients just cost a few pennies.

Another homemade starch recipe uses a mixture of one part vodka and two parts water. Vodka starch is popular with quilters because it effectively removes wrinkles from a variety of fabrics. Although this recipe is more expensive than the cornstarch-based version, a cheap brand of vodka can be used since flavor is not a factor.